PETALING JAYA: More refined data about Covid-19 infections and fatality among children is needed to understand how much of it is due to the Delta variant, say health experts. As more adults get vaccinated and more economic sectors open up, they expect more transmissions among children.

       Senior consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS (pic) said there had been an upswing of Covid-19 infections in children this year, especially since July.

       “As more adults get vaccinated, which results in more of society opening up, we expect spread among children; the next ‘Delta wave’ will be among children.

       “Our curve went up dramatically from July onwards. We need to have a separate data set for monitoring children’s infections, hospitalisation, and deaths to enable the public to monitor the severity of the problem in children,” he said when contacted.

       For children who get infected, Dr Amar said it was expected that at least one in 100 would get hospitalised, and one in 10,000 would die, and one in 10 would suffer from long-Covid symptoms.

       He said the death rate could climb if the intensive care unit for children cannot cope with the numbers.

       “If we could get monthly data, showing denominators of children infected and numerators of deaths, I suspect we would see that the children mortality rate since July has gone up due to the Delta variant.

       “The data is very important to help people make decisions about vaccines because a lot of people are hesitant about vaccinating children,” he said, adding that data will show that vaccines are innocuous.

       Recently, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there have been 67 children (infants to those up to 17 years) who died of Covid-19 this year compared to six in 2020.

       He said statistics showing an increasing trend of infections in those below 18 years old was worrying, while the sharp rise in deaths among this age group was also of concern.

       To keep our children safe, Dr Amar said the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17 returning to school should be promoted.

       “We will have to wait for safety data for vaccination in children under 12.

       “For all children, we need to improve the school environment before reopening them,” he said.

       He added that such measures include improving classroom ventilation, putting in place routine weekly RTK-Ag testing at school, making sure children have good masks, having a system in place to keep children in their class bubbles, and involving parents in decision making in schools.

       “All parents should reduce their children’s exposure and risk of getting Covid-19.

       “Avoid taking children to any indoor public places like supermarkets and malls.

       “Any parent who suspects his child is infected should get a test done early and alert authorities to get the appropriate support,” he said.

       Universiti Malaya professor of occupational and public health Prof Dr Victor Hoe said while schools must be safe to reopen, we cannot wait for all children to be vaccinated before the opening, and there should be other ways of reducing the risk of transmission among children.

       “Physical time at the school should focus on things that cannot be taught online like communication and motor skills,” he said.

       Calling for a limit in the use of air-conditioning that does not bring in the fresh air into classrooms, he said school operators must ensure good ventilation at all times.

       As most transmissions at workplaces happened during mealtime, Dr Hoe said there should be a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that there is no crowding at the canteen.

       “If all parents and children follow good SOP while they are at home, this will lower the chances of children getting the infection and bringing it to the school,” he said.

       Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin agreed that the reopening of schools need not wait until all children are vaccinated.

       “The opening of school in stages is a good move.

       “The important thing is the school community follow the SOP and implement the vaccination programme as fast as possible.

       “Parents should be careful when taking their children out by avoiding crowded places,” he said.